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Drainage morphometry of the Dhasan river basin, Bundelkhand craton, central

India using remote sensing and GIS techniques

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 121

Journal of Geomatics Vol 10 No. 2 October 2016

Drainage morphometry of the Dhasan river basin, Bundelkhand craton, central India
using remote sensing and GIS techniques
K. Prakash, T. Mohanty, S. Singh, K. Chaubey and P. Prakash
Centre of Advanced Study, Department of Geology
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005
Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
[email protected]

(Received: Jun 07, 2016; in final form: Sep 15, 2016)

Abstract: The Dhasan river is one of the major NE flowing tributaries of the Yamuna river in rain-deficient part of
central India. The basin is divided into five subwatersheds viz. Rohni, Bila, Sukhnai, Lakheri and Ur. The
morphometric parameters (linear, aerial and relief) of Dhasan river basin were measured using remote sensing and
GIS (geographic information system) techniques for future development and planning of the watershed. The
quantitative analysis of watershed development of the Dhasan river basin and its five sixth order sub watersheds
(SW1- SW5), was carried out using Landsat 7 ETM+, ASTER (GDEM) data and Survey of India toposheets (parts
of 54I, 54K, 54L, 54O and 54P). The drainage orientation data suggests a polymodal distribution (NE-SW, NW-SE
and E-W). The relief disposition and tectonic control of Dhasan watershed are manifested by trellis drainage pattern.
The bifurcation ratio and high gradient ratio indicate an undulatory topography with steeper stream gradient in some
parts of the basin. In other parts, the basin is characterized by high infiltration rate having fewer channels. The
bifurcation ratio indicates limited relationship amongst the hydrographic networks that are considered diagnostic of
tectonic (and/or neotectonic) imprints on the drainage network in the study area. The elongated nature of Dhasan
watershed, characterized by the shape parameters, reflects a dominant control of regional linear tectonic elements
pervasively present in the entire Bundelkhand craton.

Keywords: Dhasan river, Morphometry, Remote sensing and GIS technique, Bundelkhand craton, Central India

1. Introduction 2010; Mishra et al., 2011; Singh, 2014; Prabu and

Baskaran, 2013; Withanage et al., 2014; Prakash et
Morphometric analysis of river basin deals with the al., 2016) and for analysis and prioritization of micro-
quantitative assessment of the topographic pattern of watersheds (Pankaj and Kumar, 2009; Sarmah et al.,
the Earth’s surface, the shape and dimensions of its 2012; Vandana, 2013).
landforms, and it is also an imperative technique to
assess and comprehend the role of watershed The Dhasan river drains through the hard rock terrain
dynamics (Clarke, 1966). The progression of fluvial of the Bundelkhand craton, Bijawar group, Vindhyan
landforms with the degree of lithological and supergroup and the Deccan trap. These terrains
structural controls is well established by the drainage comprise granitoids, Banded Iron Formations,
basin analysis (Horton, 1945). The study of drainage sandstones and basaltic rocks, respectively, which
basins strengthens basic understanding of geometric does not permit sufficient groundwater recharge
characteristics of the fluvial landscape (Pophare and owing to their very low porosity and permeability
Balpande, 2014). In addition, the drainage pattern including mildly metamorphosed sandstones. Hence,
observed on Earth has a tremendous bearing on the entire Dhasan basin faces ground water scarcity
subsurface geology and operative processes (Ritter, due to deficient recharge. The ground water, which is
1986; Pati et al., 2006; Pati et al., 2008). Recent available for drinking and irrigation purposes, is
studies have demonstrated strong structural either surface rain water or from shallow dug wells
anisotropy in Bundelkhand craton basement and the which are mainly concentrated in small patches of
subsurface faults and fractures control the overall alluvium or highly fractured/ jointed rocks. The
topography in the overlying sedimentary sequences present study comprises a quantitative approach of
(Pati et al., 2006; Godin and Harris, 2014). drainage management and advancement of
groundwater potential for watershed development of
In Indian scenario, the morphometric analysis was the Dhasan river basin with the help of remote
adopted to resolve issues related to watershed sensing and GIS techniques.
analysis (Vijith and Satheesh 2006; Thomas et al.,

© Indian Society of Geomatics

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Journal of Geomatics Vol 10 No. 2 October 2016

2. Geology of the area The Bijawar group is considered to be of

Mesoproterozoic age and overlies the Archean
The study area is spread over parts of Bundelkhand Bundelkhand granitoids. The Bijawar group of rocks
craton, Bijawar group, Vindhyan supergroup and are exposed along its southeastern (Hirapur and
Deccan trap in central India. The Bundelkhand craton Sonarai basins) and northwestern (Gwalior basin)
is surrounded by Vindhyan supergroup on its eastern, margins. The Bijawar group consists of a basal Age
southern and western margins, while northern part is conglomerate and quartzite, overlain by hornstone
covered by the Indo-Gangetic alluvium. Mappable breccias, limestone, phyllitic shales, jaspers and
outcrops of Bijawar group of rocks occur in its south- diorites. These rocks are also well exposed along the
western fringe (Fig. 1). The Bundelkhand craton southeastern edges of the Vindhyan basin where they
comprises mainly granitoids and in addition, syenites, dip under the Semri group (Vindhyan supergroup;
amphibolites, Banded Iron Formation, tonalite- Ray, 2006).
trondhjemite-granodiorite (Pati et al., 2007), gneisses,
Composition calc-silicate rocks, quartzites, pillow lavas (Pati and The Vindhyan supergroup, is one of the biggest and
Raju, 2001), basaltic komatiites of boninitic affinity- widest Precambrian sedimentary successions of the
volcaniclasticmeta sediments (Malviya et al., 2006), world, occupying an area of 104,000 km2 in central
Giant Quartz Veins (Pati et al., 2007) and volcanics peninsular India. The basin spreads over the states of
(rhyolites). PGE-bearing mafic-ultramafic rocks are Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,
also exposed in southern margin of the craton (Pati et Jharkhand and Bihar. The southern boundary of
al., 2005). Most of quartz veins of varied size with Vindhyan basin is marked by the ENE-WSW
mainly NNE-SSW and NE-SW trends are observed trending Narmada-Son lineament. The western
in parts of the Bundelkhand craton representing an margin is delimited by the NE-SW trending Great Location&
episodic tectonic controlled hydrothermal activity Boundary Fault closest to the northwest trending about
(Pati et al., 2007) which are later on intruded by Aravalli-Delhi Fold Belt (Venkatachala et al., 1996)
mafic dykes in some places. Mafic dykes represent and it is bound by Indo-Gangetic alluvium to its north
the youngest intrusive phase (Pati et al., 2005) with and east. However, the basin is deemed to persist
mainly NW-SE trend. underneath of the Gangetic alluvial (Chakraborty,
2006). The Vindhyan supergroup is subdivided into
the Upper Vindhyan (Kaimur, Rewa, and Bhander
groups) and the Lower Vindhyan (Semri group). The
rocks of Vindhyan supergroup are well-exposed in
three diverse regions: the Rajasthan, the Bundelkhand
and the Son valley. The study area extends over the
Bundelkhand region where, the Semri, Kaimur and
Rewa group of rocks are exposed.

The Deccan traps occur in peninsular India between

longitudes 69°–79°E and latitudes 16°–22°N and
comprise one of the largest volcanic provinces of
Earth (Mahoney et al., 2002; Courtillot et al., 1988; about
Bose, 1995; Ghosh et al., 2006). The Deccan traps
also have severe problem in ground water abundance
(Limaye, 2010). Lithology, degree of deformation
and intensity of precipitation are controlling factor of
hydrological potential of this volcanic province.

3. Methodology

Advanced Space borne Thermal Emission and

Reflection (ASTER G-DEM) (date of acquisition -
2006-09-30), data is used for delineation of drainage
map. The ASTER included elevation data on a near-
global scale to generate the most complete high-
resolution digital topographic database of Earth. The
Figure 1: Map showing the Dhasan river basin in ASTER data of WRS-2 satellite with capture
a simplified geological map of central India
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Journal of Geomatics Vol 10 No. 2 October 2016

resolution of 3 arc second and pixel resolution of 30

meter was used for this study.

The ASTER data were used to delineate the drainage

network through digital elevation model technique
(Fig. 2 & 3). Thematic Mapper (ETM+) data and SOI
(Survey of India) topographic maps (1:50000) are
used for delineation of the drainage network,
lineaments and demarcation of subwatershed of the
study area. The ASTER and ETM+ data were
obtained from Global Land Cover Facility
(http://www.landcover.org). The ETM+ is a cross-
track scanner providing seven multispectral channels
(3 visible, 1 near-infrared, 2 mid-infrared, 1 thermal-
infrared) at 30-meter resolution while 15 meter
spatial resolution in panchromatic mode (120-meter
resolution for the thermal-infrared band) and
orthorectified data with moderate resolution 30-90
meter of Date 2000/11/20. The LANDSAT data is
used for lineament identification of the basin (Fig. 4).

Figure 3: Drainage with subwatersheds in which

the main watershed is divided into five
subwatersheds (Rohni, Bila, Ur, Sukhnai and
Lakheri) on the basis of 6th order stream

Figure 2: Digital Elevation Model (DEM) based on Figure 4: (a) Scatter diagram of bifurcation index,
ASTER elevation data of the study area. The average bifurcation ratio and average direct
DEM is used to extract the drainages and to bifurcation ratio of the five subwatersheds of the
demarcate the five subwatershed of the Dhasan Dhasan river basin; (b) Scatter diagram with
watershed smooth line and marks between stream order
verses logarithm of number of stream and
logarithm of stream length
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Journal of Geomatics Vol 10 No. 2 October 2016

Watershed and drainage network was analyzed using Table 1: Different morphometric parameters used
Horton’s (1954) scheme while in stream ordering for morphometric analysis
Strahler (1964) methods was adopted. The basic
parameter like length of individual stream, basin area Parameters Definition
and perimeter of the basin were extracted from the Linear
Arc GIS-10 geodatabase and further used for Perimeter (P) (km)
aspects
calculating morphometric parameter such as linear, Basin length (Lb)
areal, relief and tectonic aspects by means of various (km)
equations (Table 1). Stream order(Nu) Strahler (1957)
Stream length(Lu)
4. Results and discussion Horton (1945)
(km)
The morphometric investigation incorporates Rb=Nu/N(u+1),
Bifurcation ratio(Rb)
measurement and mathematical analysis of the area, Horton (1945)
altitude, volume, slope, profiles of the land and
drainage basin characteristics of the catchment area Stream lengthratio Rl=Lu/L(u-1), Horton
concerned (Clark, 1966). (Rl) (1945)
R=Rl/Rb, Horton
The catchment area of the Dhasan river with stream Rho coefficient( R)
(1945)
network and 5 sixth order subwatersheds viz. Rohni,
Bila, Ur, Sukhnai and Lakheri are shown in figure 3. Areal aspects Area (A) (km2)
The parameters of linear, areal, relief and tectonic Drainage
aspects have been examined and described in the /Dd=Lt/A, Horton
density(Dd) (km km-
following section along with their highlights. (1945)
2
)

Drainage pattern Stream /Fs=Nt/A, Horton

The drainage orientations of the Dhasan watershed frequency(Fs) (km-2) (1945)
(DW) show polymodal distribution (NE-SW, NW- Drainage texture(T) T=DdFs, Smith
SE, N-S and E-W). The NE-SW trend of the streams (km km-4) (1950)
is most conspicuous. The drainage patterns are
trellised in general; while rectangular, dendritic and Length ofoverland Lg=1/2Dd, Horton
parallel pattern also observed. The trellis drainage flow(Lg) (km) (1945)
pattern is formed by the network of tributaries and Constant of
consequent the Dhasan river, which follows the C=1/Dd,
Channel Schumm(1956)
regional slope and is well adjusted to the different maintenance(C) (km)
geological structures. Dendritic or tree- shaped Ff=A/Lb2, Horton
drainage pattern is the most common and widespread Form factor (Ff)
(1945)
pattern to be found in the study area. The dendritic
drainage pattern is characteristic of area having Rc=4A/P2, Miller
Circularity ratio (Rc)
homogeneous lithologies and horizontal to gently (1953)
dipping strata. Some parts of the study area are Re=1.128A/Lb,
Elongation ratio (Re)
characterized by centripetal drainage pattern, which Schumm(1956)
may be caused by the localized exhumation due to Relief aspects
erosional and tectonic activities of intrusive
R= H-h, Schumm
granitoids. Basin relief (r) (km)
(1956)
Linear aspects Rr= R/Lb, Schumm
Relief ratio (Rr)
(1956)
Perimeter (P) Ruggedness number Rn=R*Dd, Strahler
The Dhasan watershed with perimeter 683.172 km is (Rn) (1958)
divided into five 6th order subwatersheds and the Rg=Es-Em/Lb,
details are given in Table 2. Among the 6 Gradient ratio (Rg)
Sreedevi et al. (2004)
subwatersheds, the Rohini subwatershed has largest
Meltonruggedness MRn=H-h/A0.5,
perimeter (424.17 km) and Sukhnai subwatershed has
ratio (MRn Melton (1965)
smallest perimeter (151.5 km).
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Journal of Geomatics Vol 10 No. 2 October 2016

Table 2: Linear aspects, areal aspects, relief aspects and tectonic parameters of Dhasan river basin and its
five subwatersheds

Subwatersheds ----- Rohni Bila Ur Sukhnai Lakheri Main

Perimeter (P, 424.17 207.79 209.79 151.5 157.99 760.29
km)
Basin Length 149.1 69.31 76.27 50.64 57.43 271.73
Linear (Lb, km)
Parameters Average stream 0.7 0.59 0.62 0.52 0.56 0.55
length ratio
(AvgRl)
Average 4.84 3.94 4.25 3.85 4.69 4.58
Bifurcation ratio
(AvgRb)
Rho coefficient 0.14 0.15 0.15 0.13 0.12 0.12
(R)
Area (A, km2) 3495.45 1277.36 1617.81 865.82 1148.41 10992.58
Drainage density 1.26 1.23 1.27 1.28 1.3 1.26
(Dd)
Stream 0.97 0.85 0.91 0.89 0.92 0.93
frequency (Fs)
Drainage 1.22 1.05 1.16 1.14 1.2 1.18
Texture (T)
Areal
Length of 0.4 0.41 0.39 0.39 0.38 0.4
Parameters
overland flow
(Lg)
Constant of 0.8 0.81 0.78 0.78 0.77 0.79
channel
maintenance (C)
Form factor(Ff) 0.16 0.27 0.28 0.34 0.35 0.15
Circulaory Ratio 0.24 0.37 0.46 0.47 0.58 0.24
(Rc)
Elongation ratio 0.45 0.58 0.59 0.66 0.67 0.44
(Re)
Shape index 6.36 3.76 3.6 2.96 2.87 6.72
(Sw)
Basin Relief(r) 0.31 0.21 0.18 0.16 0.15 0.49
Relief Ratio (Rr) 0.0021 0.003 0.0024 0.0032 0.0026 0.0017
Ruggedness 0.39 0.26 0.23 0.2 0.2 0.62
number (Rn)
Relief and Gradient ratio 0.0021 0.0029 0.0024 0.0032 0.0024 0.0017
Tectonic (Rg)
Parameters Melton 0.0052 0.0059 0.0045 0.0054 0.0044 0.0046
ruggedness ratio
(MRn)
Average Direct 1.7 1.8 1.76 1.97 2.49
Bifurcation ratio
(AvgRdb)
Bifurcation 3.14 2.14 2.49 1.88 2.2
index (R)
Asymmetry 53.97 83.43 56.66 15.97 64.03
factor (AF)
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Journal of Geomatics Vol 10 No. 2 October 2016

Stream Order (Nu) exemplified by the attainment of geomorphic

A measure of the position of a stream in the hierarchy maturity (Thomas et al., 2010).
of tributaries is defined as stream order (Leopold et
al., 1969). The classification of streams based on the Rho coefficient (R)
number and type of tributary junctions has proven to The Rho coefficient varies between 0.12 and 0.15 for
be a useful indicator of stream size, discharge and these subwatersheds. The R is an important
drainage area (Strahler, 1957). The DW is allocated parameter relating drainage density to physiographic
as seventh order stream. The subwatersheds are development of a watershed. It also assists in the
divided on the basis of sixth order stream. evaluation of storage capacity of drainage network
and hence, a determinant of critical degree of
Stream length (Lu) drainage development in a given watershed (Horton,
Stream length is an important hydrological feature of 1945).
the basin as it reveals surface runoff character and
streams of relatively smaller lengths are characteristic Areal aspects
of the steeper slope and finer texture of the area. The
streams having relatively long channel lengths are Area (A)
suggestive of flat topography with gentle gradients. The Dhasan watershed occupies 10992.58 km2 area
In general, the total length of stream segments is in central India. The areas of other sub-watersheds
maximum in first order streams and decreases as the are tabulated (Table 2).
stream order increases, according to the law of stream
length after Horton (1945). The mean and total Drainage density (Dd)
stream lengths of each stream order are given in Drainage density (Dd) is described as an expression
Table 2. The relationship between watershed area and of the closeness of spacing of channels and
stream length is characterized by Hack (1957) as the quantitatively obtained by the ratio of total channel
head-ward erosion is the predominant driver for the segment lengths within a basin over the basin area
drainage network development and expansion. The (Horton, 1945; Strahler, 1964). The Dd of the
rapid boost up from average stream length ratio is Dhasan watersheds is 1.26 (Table 2). Low drainage
observed in the Rohni subwatershed (0.70), density of the Bila subwatershed is favored of
symptomatic of the influence of rock types and resistant lithology or highly permeable subsoil
structures in the development of drainage networks. materials, under dense vegetations while high
drainage density of the Lakheri subwatershed is
favored in regions of weak or impermeable materials
Bifurcation ratio (Rb) with sparse vegetation cover (Strahler, 1964).
According to Strahler (1964), the bifurcation ratio is
defined as a ratio of the number of streams of a given Drainage texture (T)
order (Nu) to the number of streams of the next Smith (1950) suggested that drainage texture is a
higher order (Nu+1). The values of the bifurcation measure of relative channel spacing in a fluvial-
ratio vary from 3.85 to 4.84. The bifurcation ratio dissected terrain, which is greatly influenced by
varying between 3.0 and 5.0 for sub-watersheds climate, vegetation, lithology, soil type, relief, and
suggests that the geological structures control the stage of development of a watershed. According to
drainage pattern of the DW. The elongated basin of Smith (1950) classification, the study area comes
the Rohni subwatershed with high Rb value would under very coarse drainage texture because of the low
yield a low but extended peak flow and the rotund drainage density (<2).
basin of Sukhani subwatershed with low Rb value
would produce a squat peak discharge (Strahler, Length of overland flow (Lg)
1964). Horton (1945) defined length of overland flow (Lg)
as the length of flow path, projected to the horizontal
Stream length ratio (Rl) of non-channel flow from a point on the drainage
The stream length ratio, among 5 subwatersheds, divide to a point on the adjacent stream channel.
varies from 0.52 to 0.70. The variability in Rl is an Length of overland flow is also affected by other
indication of differences between slope and factors viz. rainfall intensity, infiltration rate, soils,
topography and hence it has an important control on vegetations covers etc. In the study area Lg varies
discharge and different erosion stages of the from 0.38 and 0.41 (Table 2). Early stage is marked
watershed (Sreedevi et al., 2004). Higher stream with maximum length of overland flow and old
length ratio indicates higherosion activity. The stages spottedas reduction in Lg.
increase of Rl from lower to higher orders is
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Journal of Geomatics Vol 10 No. 2 October 2016

Constant of channel maintenance (C) Relief Ratio (Rr)

Schumm (1956) used the inverse of drainage density Relief ratio is a dimensionless ratio between basin
as a property termed constant of channel relief and basin length and widely accepted as an
maintenance. The C of DW is 0.79 (Table 2). Large effective measure of gradient aspects of the
valueof C signifies higher infiltration rate and mature watershed (Schumm,1956; Vittala et al., 2004). The
to old stage of the river. maximum Rr values of Sukhnai subwatershed is 3.2
(Table 2), signifying the presence of steeper slope
Form factor (Ff) and higher relief underlain by resistant rocks.
Form factor is used to predict the flow intensity of a
watershed of a defined area (Horton, 1945; Gregory Ruggedness number (Rn)
and Walling, 1973). The index of Ff also illustrates The ruggedness number is expressed as the product
the inverse relationship with the square of the axial of basin relief and drainage density (Strahler, 1958;
length and a direct relationship with peak discharge Vijith and Satheesh, 2006). The high ruggedness
(Magesh et al., 2012). Ff of DW is 0.16. The Ff of value (Table 2) of the Dhasan watershed implies that
other subwatersheds is given in the table 2. Relatively the tract is more prone to soil erosion and have
larger values of Ff (>0.30) for Sukhnai and Lakheri structural deformation in association with relief and
subwatersheds are indicating higher flow peak for drainage density.
shorter duration.
Gradient Ratio (Rg)
Circulatory ratio (Rc) Gradient ratio is a marker of channel undulation
Miller (1958) used a dimensionless circulatory ratio which assists the assessment of the runoff volume
Rc, defined as, the ratio of basin area to the area of a (Sreedevi et al., 2004; Thomas et al., 2010). The
circle having the same perimeter as the basin. Rc of large Rg values of Bila subwatershed reflect the
DW is 0.24 (Table 2). Low (Rohni subwatershed) i.e. elevated and rugged nature of the terrain.
0.24 and high (Lakheri subwatershed) i.e. 0.58 value
of Rc corresponds to youth and mature stages of Tectonic parameters
watershed development.
Asymmetry Factor (AF)
Elongation ratio (Re) The Asymmetry factor permits to establish the lateral
Schumm (1956) used an elongation ratio Re, defined tilting of a basin with respect to the main water
as the ratio of diameter of a circle of the same area as course (Hare and Gardner, 1985; Cox, 1994; Cuong
the basin to a maximum basin length. The ratio in and Zuchiewicz, 2001; Mohan et al., 2007; Singh and
general varies between 0.40 and 1.0 over an ample Srivastava, 2011; Raj, 2012). This index also
diversity of climate and geology. Values close to1.0 includes directions of possible differential tectonic
is distinctive of the regions characterized by very low (neo) activity and is also sensitive to uplift and
relief, whereas values in the range 0.6 to 0.8 are subsidence of discrete blocks versus broad tilting
generally associated with strong relief and steep (Pinter, 2005). The asymmetric factor (AF) is
ground slant. defined as AF= 100 (Ar/At) where, Ar= Area of the
right (facing downstream) of the trunk stream, and
Shape index (Sw) At= Total area of the drainage basin. According to
The shape index of DW is 6.72, while the values of Molin et al. (2004), when AF is greater than 50 the
the sub-watersheds range between 2.87 and 6.36 channel has shifted towards the left side of the
(Table 2). The shape index refers to elongated basin drainage basin whereas a value less than 50 is
with high peak discharge. indicative of channel shift towards the downstream
right side of the drainage basin. Sukhnai
Relief aspects subwatershed shows value less than 50 pointing
towards their shift in the right side of the drainage
Basin Relief (R) basin.
Basin relief is a parameter that determines the stream
gradient and influences flood pattern and volume of Direct Bifurcation Ratio
sediment that can be transported (Hadley and The bifurcation ratio is the measure of the degree of
Schumm, 1961). It is also an important factor to branching within the hydrographic network (Horton,
understand denudational characteristics of the basin 1945; Strahler, 1952). Direct bifurcation ratio Rdb =
(Sreedevi et al., 2004). The basin relief values are Ndu/Nu+1 where Ndu represents the number of
given in table 2. fluvial segments of a given order that flows in
segments of the next higher order (Guarnieri and
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Journal of Geomatics Vol 10 No. 2 October 2016

Pirrotta, 2008); Nu+1 is the number of segments of

next higher order. This ratio describes the structure of
the hydrographic network without considering
hierarchical anomalies. Bifurcation index R = Rb -
Rdb. It can give useful information on the erosive
processes and on the degree of evolution of the basin
(Guarnieri and Pirrotta, 2008). The parameters
relative to this analysis demonstrated that Rohni
subwatershed had an inadequate association of the
hydrographic network due to active tectonics.
Sukhnai subwatershed shows low bifurcation index
which are sure indicators of notable tectonic imprint
on the drainage network.

Lineament Study
According to Nur (1982), the lineaments are one of
the important components of the Earth’s surface
morphology and the lineament density is relative to
the intensity of deformation. The linear structural
elements (lineament) traced out in Betwa basin
consist of fractures (joints and faults) and shear zones
etc. The giant quartz veins and basic dykes are
genetically associated by these structural elements
and so are their spatial and temporal distributions.
These lineaments are of tectonic origin (Senthiappan,
1981; Basu, 1986; Pati et al., 2015) and are easily
deciphered on LANDSAT (ETM+) imageries and
Figure 5: (a) Spatial distribution of lineaments in
based on tonal contrast, shape, change in relief,
the study area; (b) Trends of 566 lineaments are
texture and pattern (hill and drainage) etc. Many of
shown in a Rose diagram
these linear structures are verified with the help of
field observations and evidences of shear
displacements. The orientations of linear structures
have been shown in the form of a rose diagram (Fig.
5) with a total number of 566 linear structures. It is
remarkable to note that the maximum lineament
density (Fig. 6) is found in the upper part of the
Betwa river which is mainly the central part of
Bundelkhand craton. The linear structures indicate
three main azimuthal frequenciesin NE-SW, E-W,
and NW-SE directions representing the three major
deformation trend viz. giant quartz veins, shear zone
and basic dykes respectively. The azimuthal
frequency of NW-SE trending lineaments is
comparatively low. In general, all these fractures can
be formed either due to shear rupture or tensile
failure. Shear failure (Hodgson, 1961) can very well
explain the origin of lineament but rarely supported
by in situ observations (Nur, 1982). Most of the
drainages of the Dhasan river basin follow the NE-
SW trend. The present work can be extended to
various ventures in the Betwa basin (semi-arid
region) like ground water surveys by locating the
zones of higher secondary porosity through fracture Figure 6: Lineament density map of the Dhasan
density data generated in the present study. river
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Journal of Geomatics Vol 10 No. 2 October 2016

The study shows that GIS techniques provide 5. Conclusion

efficient tools for the assessment of drainage
characteristics of the Dhasan watershed and its five The study demonstrates that morphometric analysis
sixth order subwatersheds, to comprehend the of a river basin can be performed using remote
significance of morphometric studies in terrain sensing and GIS techniques. This provides an
characterization and expansion of the river basin. alternate and efficient way to understand the status of
land form and their processes. Such analysis is useful
Systematically organized and well developed in development and planning of watersheds.
drainage network with large number of first and
second order streams in the Dhasan basin is validated Acknowledgement
through the homogeneous weathering and head-ward
erosion. The area exhibits dendritic drainage pattern We thankfully acknowledge the Head, Department of
on the whole however sporadic trellis and centripetal Geology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi and
pattern are also notice in some region. Very high DST- FIST grant for providing us space and GIS
fraction of first and second order streams point out facility for the above work. T. Mohanty is thankfully
the structural deformation, mainly as fractures, acknowledged to UGC-BSR fellowship for assisting
lineaments and folded litho units. The elongated this work. Anonymous reviewers are thankfully
shape of watersheds is characterized by lower flood acknowledged for improving the manuscript in a
peaks but longer duration flood flows, advocating better form.
flood management. The values of bifurcation ratio
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